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Feature/General
Best Book Bets
By Frannie Gay
Photograph by Shannon Bailey

Nov/Dec 2009

When searching for the perfect gift for a child, we often check out the hottest toys. Why not check out the hottest books? To me, a book is a personal gift. I choose books based on the personality of the person and what type of reader they are. The perfect gift does not need to have flashing lights, loud sounds or millions of tiny pieces. Besides, those things require batteries, not to mention the lights stop working, the sounds get annoying and the tiny pieces end up being sucked up by vacuums. Give the gift of learning for the holidays!

Children reading books

SWEET PICTURE BOOKS (ANY AGE)

Princess Hyacinth by Florence Parry Heide; illustrated by Lane Smith
One of my favorite illustrators lends his talents to this enchanting story of a princess with a very unique problem – she floats! Frustrated by being weighted down by crowns and seat belts, she decides to set herself free. But how will she find her way back home to the ground? This is the perfect gift for the little princess in your life who is an independent thinker.

The Zoo I Drew by Todd H. Doodler
“A is for alligator... with a mouth full of teeth and a body covered in scales.” According to the cover, this perfect twist on the ABC book has been “zoo keeper approved.” Through delightful illustrations that resemble something they might draw themselves, kids will learn about various animals in the zoo. Choose this book for an animal lover in your life.

CHARMING CHAPTER BOOKS (AGES 8-12)

RulesRules by Cynthia Lord
Catherine lives her life according to a set of rules – “keep your pants on in public,” and “if you don’t have the words you need, borrow someone else’s.” It’s a set that she has made up to keep her brother, David, from embarrassing himself and her. Her world is turned upside down when she makes new friends and begins to question what “normal” really means.

The Name of this Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch
Tired of Lemony Snickett? Try this novel filled with anagrams, codes and secrets – even the name of the book is secret! Cass and Max-Ernest discover a box filled with vials of smelly ingredients. They then begin a hunt for immortality and the answers to a magician’s death. Any action-loving, mystery-solving reader would love this debut novel.

SOMETHING OTHER THAN TWILIGHT (AGES 15 AND UP)

Whirligig by Paul Fleischman
In this heart-wrenching story, Fleischman takes the reader on one boy’s journey of redemption and forgiveness. He learns how one mistake can change a life forever. After causing a car accident that takes a girl’s life, Brent embarks on a cross-country trip as retribution to the victim’s parents. Through building whirligigs, he learns more about himself and the human spirit.

Life As We Knew ItLife As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Imagine life without power, without easy access to food, and the moon so close to the earth you’re sure you could touch it. This is Miranda’s life. The excitement of seeing a meteor hit the moon is replaced with fear when the moon is knocked off balance, causing huge tidal waves to wipe out all coastal cities. Pfeffer creates a beautiful story of hope amidst chaos, and of a family’s struggle to find normalcy in tragedy.

Frannie Gay is a graduate student in the School and Library Media program at UGA.



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